Finding Inspiration as Winter Drags On

These Cyclamen have been blooming since Christmas when I got them...they are on a 2nd round of flowers and are a welcome sight with this white landscape...

 These birds seemed to be staring me down asking for more food!  

We had some intense winds a few days ago and it blew all the food out of the feeders... We accommodated them after our coffee...they all seemed appreciative!

 This feeder is right outside my sliding back door...the Chickadee and I were mind melding!

 My little girl statue stands vigilant out in the winter weather looking like she's dressed with a hat and scarf...waiting as I am for spring!

 The squirrels were enjoying our brief melt down last week..we actually saw our driveway for the first time since early December!  They are good scavengers..eating any bird seed that falls to the ground!

 I stare out here thinking about how it looks in the summer...

Our life seems as though we live like the people in the movie Dr. Zhivago...

I'd prefer something a little greener though!

Which would you prefer?  

Ice Cream Anyone (*2nd Posting)

Something odd is going on with blogger so I am posting this for a 2nd time
Hello and welcome to my 
mini ice cream party! 
I decided to go against the grain- 
even though  it's cold and wintry out
I am going to have an ice cream party! 

(Don't forget you can click any picture to enlarge)
We can either have the ice cream in a bowl 
or make a cone! 
 I found a can of some Chopped Pineapple- It should add a nice pop of flavor as well as some Caramel for drizzle...
I used only what I already had in the house rather than going out for groceries...but had I gone out I would have gotten whipped cream, bananas, chocolate syrup and maraschino cherries!

 I selected Strawberry Cheesecake for the ice cream...

I'm using my ice bucket to serve the ice cream from...

 Condiments include- shaved chocolate...

 Chopped pecans...

Crumbled up Chocolate Chip Cookies..

And of course some sprinkles...

 I ordered these dishes a while back from
One King's Lane.
The manufacturer is Rosanna- the black ones said Dinner Party on the box, and the smaller plates said Cioccolato on the box.

 These are close ups of the plates...
I thought they were so cute! 

I scream, you scream, we all scream for Ice Cream!
LOL..my Mom taught me that one!

 And by coincidence these little ice cream bowls are by Rosanna too!
I've owned these for a long time, 
they came from what used to be
Marshall Fields...

I've eaten a lot of ice cream from these bowls!

I  had some fun playing with this tablescape...

 I used my little rooster juice glasses from Pfaltzgraff
The tablecloths are from a web site called
Bright Settings - they will make any size
you want and have a lot of fabric choices...
They made both the white and the 
checkerboard ones for me.

I used my artificial boxwood topiary for the centerpiece...
Just having some fun on this cold winter's day! 
I've also been known to make a summer type meal in the middle of winter...baked beans, potato salad, and even something grilled!  

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoyed it!


I'm joining

Tablescape Thursdays
 at Between Naps on the Porch

and
The Tablescaper-Seasonal Sundays

Ice Cream Anyone?

Hello and welcome to my 
mini ice cream party! 
I decided to go against the grain- 
even though  it's cold and wintry out
I am going to have an ice cream party! 

(Don't forget you can click any picture to enlarge)
We can either have the ice cream in a bowl 
or make a cone! 
 I found a can of some Chopped Pineapple- It should add a nice pop of flavor as well as some Caramel for drizzle...
I used only what I already had in the house rather than going out for groceries...but had I gone out I would have gotten whipped cream, bananas, chocolate syrup and maraschino cherries!

 I selected Strawberry Cheesecake for the ice cream...

I'm using my ice bucket to serve the ice cream from...

 Condiments include- shaved chocolate...

 Chopped pecans...

Crumbled up Chocolate Chip Cookies..

And of course some sprinkles...

 I ordered these dishes a while back from
One King's Lane.
The manufacturer is Rosanna- the black ones said Dinner Party on the box, and the smaller plates said Cioccolato on the box.

 These are close ups of the plates...
I thought they were so cute! 

I scream, you scream, we all scream for Ice Cream!
LOL..my Mom taught me that one!

 And by coincidence these little ice cream bowls are by Rosanna too!
I've owned these for a long time, 
they came from what used to be
Marshall Fields...

I've eaten a lot of ice cream from these bowls!

I  had some fun playing with this tablescape...

 I used my little rooster juice glasses from Pfaltzgraff
The tablecloths are from a web site called
Bright Settings - they will make any size
you want and have a lot of fabric choices...
They made both the white and the 
checkerboard ones for me.

I used my artificial boxwood topiary for the centerpiece...
Just having some fun on this cold winter's day! 
I've also been known to make a summer type meal in the middle of winter...baked beans, potato salad, and even something grilled!  

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoyed it!


I'm joining
The Tablescaper-Seasonal Sundays

Tiny but potent!

Tiny but potent!  
These paperwhites are giving me great joy at this stage of the winter doldrums....  It's nice to be reminded of the nice things mother nature gives us!

They do give off a potent fragrance!

This is how I view them everyday from my desk...I am enjoying it!  Can't wait for the other bulbs to grow and put on a color performance for me!
See my previous posting as to what else is planted in the pot here...

Candlelight dinner for 6

Join me for an early evening dinner party for a group of my girlfriends and myself...We'll join the men later for the movie- The King's Speech

Let's check out the table I've prepared....

I love these tulips, I hope they last a while so 
I can enjoy them even more!

Night is falling, it's time!

 With Valentine's Day in mind I've set the table for us ladies
I've kept it feminine with accents of pink and pearls

A salad will be served, dinner rolls, chicken, rice, asparagus and wine!

Each guest has a place card to welcome them...

This china is by Noritake called Yoshino...

The soft pink salad plates were a gift for a birthday to me from my mother several years ago. I love the rose pattern etched along the side.

The Pink plates were ordered from the Ross Simons Catalog and were an made in Germany, but I don't know any other information about them. 

 My flatware is by Wallace, called Euro Beads and

the Napkins are from Pier 1 Imports...the Napkin

Rings are from Kohls

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I dressed the center area with a soft pink set of pearl garland

 The colors in the china are pretty, I loved the green band on the 

coffee cup saucers

I filled two inexpensive glass vases with clear glass beads, added some tulips 

and baby's breath

My Crystal is by Mikasa, called Windlass

I added a small chocolate treat for everyone..

We girls have to have our chocolate!  

The little votives came from a local store
called The Candle Factory, they sell a great variety of candles
and all things related- I spend way too much money there!

The Pink Vase is another piece my mother gave me after she saw me admiring it at a store..I haven't had a lot of chances to use it but it worked out well for this! 

Mom is 88 now and I appreciate the gifts she's given me

more than ever these days..

 

 I lit a small candle votive that I put down inside it to create a soft glow...

I hope you enjoyed my first tablescape and I look forward to doing many more...

Thank-you for stopping by- I welcome your comments!

I've joined The Tablescaper-Seasonal Sundays 
and 

I am joining with Between Naps on the Porch   for Tablescape Thursday.. 

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